Have you ever been offered a free 3-day hotel stay with a $200.00 future hotel voucher at Hilton? The only catch is you must watch a Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare presentation.

Additionally, you will need to pay $200.00 in advance although the money will be reimbursed after you attend.

So, would you go? Yay or Nay? You can choose between Las Vegas or Orlando, Florida.

While it sounds like a great family vacation opportunity, evaluate whether or not it really is ideal for your situation. Here’s our experience.

A Quick Decision

Truthfully, we didn’t know much about it. When we called Hilton to book a hotel room, we were given the offer and told we had to decide immediately.

On a whim, we decided to go for it. Why not? We get 3 free nights at a Hilton hotel and $200.00 for a future stay at a Hilton hotel of our choice. All this just to watch a timeshare presentation? yes, please!

Before the Presentation

After driving 10 hours to Orlando, Florida, we found our partner hotel, not the Double Tree or Embassy Suites we had envisioned. It was a dingy, not so clean looking partner hotel, but who can complain? It’s free! Right?

The following day, we drove to the Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations where they hold the presentations. That’s an incredible hotel by the way and nothing like what we stayed in.

Once you enter the hotel, you take an elevator up to the presentation floor and wait until you are divided into groups. Each group is placed into a room with about 20 people each.

Before you enter your presentation room, there’s a kids room in the hallway. You can drop your kids off and let them play or watch a movie. The room isn’t suitable for little babies or toddlers though, as there is no one to watch them.

There’s also beverages and snacks for you in the hallway such as coffee, juice, coke, hotdogs, cookies, chips and some fruit.

During the Presentation

Once you enter the timeshare presentation, as you sit and wait for it to begin, the presenter comes around and welcomes you. She shakes everyone’s hands and finds out where you are from.

You watch a video and hear a short presentation soon after.

Our presenter spoke smoothly and could appeal to many audiences. She had a touching and emotional plea which makes you think “timeshares can be a good thing. I mean, she’s right. Vacationing with family is building memories and life is short! What if I get cancer too!? It would be nice to dream about going somewhere – anywhere!”

Post-Presentation

After the presentation, you are assigned an agent who sits down with you to go over the cost of timeshare packages. Later, you are brought to see the rooms you could stay at if you were to purchase a package. You know, just to dream a little …

I believe this part stresses people out the most. I was nervous too. Who would be our sales representative? Would they be aggressive and pushy? You can’t just walk out. If you do, you won’t get reimbursed for your hotel or the free voucher!

Some people have had bad experiences, but not us. In fact, we wondered, is that it?

Not So Scary After All

The agent we had was very laid back and quite nice, although he seemed tired. Probably tired of all the people who go to these presentations for the free vacation and voucher without ever purchasing a timeshare.

In fact, one of his first questions was how we felt about the presentation and the idea of timeshares? I had to be honest and knowing that we weren’t potential clients, he was done. Although he did go over a few things, he knew we weren’t buying. We waited for his manager to sign us off, which took forever, but it was all over about 3 hours later.

Reimbursement and Voucher

Once we were cleared to leave, we headed downstairs to the lobby, where we were given a voucher for $200 for 1 Hilton hotel of our choice. We chose Embassy Suites.

What they don’t tell you is that you must use it within 6 months of the presentation. Once you stay at a hotel, you have to pay the difference if it’s higher than the $200 voucher and you must send it in for reimbursement.

That’s how it was for us at least and we still haven’t used it. I’m certain it expires this weekend.

Review

The Hilton Grand Vacations presentation on timeshares may or may not be worth your time. It really depends.

If you are interested in timeshares and could use a free vacation, this might be a great opportunity to take advantage of a deal. You might spend a few hours on a Sunday at the presentation, but not much more.

However, if you are certain you don’t want a timeshare (no matter what) and you have an inflexible schedule, you might not want to partake. It will be a waste of time for you and the people involved.

Also, if you paid the $200 to go, but don’t show up, you must forfeit the money.

I am glad we went because it was a learning experience, but I wouldn’t go again unless I was serious about timeshares.

Have you ever been offered a deal to attend a timeshare presentation? What was your experience like? Did you think it was a scam?

Are you thinking of taking a trip abroad this year, but can’t decide where to go? Let me convince you why you should visit Bali at least once in your life.

Why Bali?

It is an amazing island full of friendly people, delicious food, and oh so many things to do. Best of all, it is affordable.

My First Visit

A few years ago, I was an exchange student and visited Bali on a cooking expedition/vacation. I spent a night in Kuta, a popular tourist town, but later went to Ubud, a more artsy area known for the film Eat, Pray, Love.

Ubud was my “home base” for the trip and it was incredible. Bali is now a part of my soul.

Here’s 10 reasons you should visit Bali.

1. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. You can see monkeys in the open as you walk through a beautiful forest sanctuary. The monkeys are cute, but when they scream and fight, you might be tempted to run. Don’t worry though. You’ll be fine. Even if a monkey decides to jump on you! I only saw it happen once. No, twice. Either way, the memories will stay with you forever.

2. Diverse Range of Activities. Enjoy an introductory cooking class on Balinese cuisine. The best part is eating all the authentic food and getting a cookbook at the end as a keepsake. If you aren’t into cooking, you can choose from a wide-range of other activities. Check out a cultural performance or take a bike ride through villages!

“I got a massage almost every day.”

3. Massages and Spas. You wouldn’t believe how much it costs to get a massage in Bali. It feels almost wrong. Without sounding too indulgent, I actually got a massage almost every day and it didn’t break bank. This is why you visit Bali! To relax and unwind.

4. Incredible Views of Rice Fields and Terraces. I decided to trek the rice fields where I met people from around the world and I even discovered a few pieces of art to take home.

5. The Markets and Shopping. If you love markets with local crafts and fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as pretty local boutiques, you’ll find a lot of that in Bali! I found unique souvenirs to take back home.

Tourists Sipping Coffee at a Plantation

6. Balinese Coffee. If you are a coffee aficionado, you will want to visit Bali. You might be interested in Kopi Luwak. This is the crazy part about the coffee. A cat-like animal digests the coffee cherries, excretes it, and somehow makes the coffee beans turn into an outstanding product. Yes, excretes it. However, it’s supposed to be one of the “finest” coffees around.

7. Balinese Food. Need I say more?I still think about the black rice pudding and the delicious sate. If you for some reason do not like Balinese food (I would be shocked), then you still have variety of global cuisine to choose from. There’s so much to eat in Bali. It is incredible.

View from my room

A room for $15.00

8. Affordable Hotels. If you are a back-packer on a major budget, you could literally rent a decent room of your own for $15.00 with breakfast. In Kuta, I found it more expensive, but the hotels were very nice.

9. Beaches and Surfing. Bali is a great surfing destination, but also a place where you can relax on the beach! For me, the water looked rough, but it was nice to be around the ocean! Surfers love Bali. I can see why.

10. Temples. It is not everyday that we get to explore temples. In Bali, there are many you can visit. They are beautiful to tour and are often full of culture and history.

I Hope You Visit One Day

I hope my room above didn’t scare you away! Don’t worry, there are way better places to stay for a little more in Bali.

That’s the beauty of Bali. There are many price ranges to fit different needs. However, everyone gets to experience the beauty of the island and what it has to offer.

Bali is for everyone and you’ll leave your vacation with some fantastic memories!

I can’t wait to return someday soon. I’m already missing it.

If you have been to Bali before, what was your most memorable experience? What about a favorite food or place you visited?

Last week, we visited Disney World to celebrate some very special birthdays and our 10th year anniversary! We decided to do a character breakfast to celebrate.

Character Breakfast Options

The character breakfast is a great way to meet Disney characters and have a photo opportunity while eating breakfast (i.e. multi-tasking).

Thanks to the Disney Food Blog and the Disney app (which I highly recommend), I was able to gain some insight into places of interest for our family. The app also allowed me to reserve a table for us in advance (which is a must by the way!). If you plan to do any character breakfast at Disney, always book ahead.

We settled on the Ohana breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. I felt like I wasn’t in Florida anymore.

There were many character breakfasts to choose from, but I read outstanding reviews of the Ohana breakfast which made me lean towards it. Plus, being from Hawaii, I had to check it out!

It is also a monorail away from the Magic Kingdom where we had planned to visit first, so Ohana was a great choice.

Breakfast

When you first enter the Ohana restaurant, a friendly host will take you to your seat.

You are immediately served some sweet bread and given passion-orange-guava juice (POG) and/or coffee.

A tray of cut fruit is placed on your table soon after.

Then, you are served a gigantic skillet with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, and mickey waffles.

We could barely finish our food when they asked if we wanted a second skillet!

Meeting Characters

Stuffed beyond our means, we patiently waited for the characters to come around. Depending on your seating, it can take quite a while.

Mickey eventually did come around.

Our active toddler wanted to move around a lot and we had to keep him from wanting to chase after the characters. Thankfully, some of the characters walk around occasionally and there is a “parade” before and after breakfast.

I took my son around in the parade where he got to shake a rattle and almost hit me in the head. Luckily, I dodged the rattle.

When it was time to meet the characters individually at our table, my son was afraid of them at first. He was terrified mostly of stitch because of his crazy looking teeth. But after a hi-five with the characters, he got over his fears and was playing peek-a-boo, giving hugs, and had the biggest smile on his face!

March is a special month for my family, so we decided to do something big although last minute and on a budget. Disney World, here we come! We will be celebrating birthdays and our 10th anniversary!

Under normal circumstances, you should plan a Disney World vacation six months in advance at minimum, but if your schedule is inflexible and you are on a budget, I feel you.

Here are some things I’ve learned while planning a last minute Disney vacation on a budget.

Last Minute Disney Budget Vacation Tips

I planned my trip in two weeks with a budget of $1000, roughly. Yours may be significantly lower or higher depending on your circumstances. Disney can be expensive, so it’s always good to find deals to help lower any expenses.

Off Season is Best. Luckily, our trip is off season. The best deals are during off-peak season when demand is lower. This includes ticket deals. Here’s an example of the Magic Your Way ticket being about $70 per day for 4-days. The catch is it must be purchased by 5 March 2017.

Military Ticket Discounts. If you are military, you have options, such as Disney Salute. As of February 2017, it costs $209 for a 4-day park hopper ticket (without water park option). That’s a deal! Visit your local MWR for more information, as tickets and prices may change.

Compare Hotel Prices. I compared prices on hotels.com and trivago.com to find the best deals. On trivago.com, I found a four-star hotel on sale, so instead of paying over $100 a night, I got it for $58 instead because it was 60% off. It cost me $260 for 4 nights, 3 days. When finding your hotel, compare prices online and read the details/reviews to see if there are any hidden fees. (Note: if you really want to be cheap, sometimes you can get offered 3-4 nights free hotel if you watch a timeshare presentation. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you are truly interested in timeshare).

Additional Fees to Avoid. Choose a hotel that doesn’t tack on expensive fees for parking and watch out for exorbitant resort fees too. A hotel with free shuttle service/parking will help.

BYOB Food. Select a hotel with complimentary breakfast, so you don’t have to eat out. If not, bring granola bars, bananas, and other easy foods for breakfast. Bring sandwiches and a few snacks with you to avoid paying hefty prices for lunch or dinner. If you want to eat at Disney, plan ahead to find the best deals, so you don’t end up in an expensive restaurant that breaks your budget. Breakfast is the least expensive at Disney compared to lunch or dinner. For some great tips on Disney Food, check out the Disney Food Blog here and Disney’s official website here.

BYOB Stroller. Bring a $20 umbrella stroller instead of renting daily from Disney World. Renting can cost you anywhere from $13 – $31 a day! At least you get to keep your own stroller. A baby carrier is great for little ones too.

Take Your Own Photos. Professional photographers are all around Disney, ready to snap your picture. Get your photos taken in case you want to buy any, but they are not cheap. The quality may be inconsistent too. Bring your phone/camera instead of relying on Disney. You still have the option to buy after you leave the park but at least you’ll have free photos on your phone or camera.

Download the Disney App. Check out the price of Disney restaurant meals before you go. That way, you know ahead of time whether you can afford it. It will also save you time when you book ahead! The app is also great for finding events and booking FastPass activities.

While trying to plan and book our upcoming trip, I realize there are a few things in our favor. However, you can still use the tips above to find some spectacular deals throughout the months or have a general idea of what to look out for.

If you don’t have to plan last minute, it will give you more time to find the best deals and to come up with your own ideal budget. But if you do, don’t worry, it is possible to still go to Disney World last minute with some type of budget.

Good luck planning your Disney vacation!

Are you planning a trip to Disney World? If you have been to Disney World, what money saving strategies did you use? I would love to hear your tips!

During the winter, we become hermits, unwilling to go out in the cold. But this past weekend, we started seeing some of the first signs of spring. It was warm, sunny, and inviting, so we decided to go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on a whim.

Have you been to Myrtle Beach before? If not, I think you’ll enjoy it as a future vacation spot.

Broadway at the Beach

Our first stop was Broadway at the Beach which you can check out here for more information if you are interested in visiting. I didn’t realize it was one of the most popular attractions at Myrtle Beach, but I can see why it would be. There’s a lot to do and it is extremely kid-friendly!

There are tons of restaurants and places to shop at, but also many activities for children and adults alike (i.e. Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, Zipline, mini golf, an amusement park, and more).

What I loved most was being able to walk around to see the hundreds of gigantic fish ready to be fed! These fat fish are probably fed way too much by tourists, but I am sure they aren’t complaining.

For late February, it seemed a bit more crowded than I expected, so I can only imagine what this place is like during the summer!

Here’s one of the fountains at the boardwalk. I saw at least three fights around here. Nothing too crazy though!

Here are some ideas for you to consider when planning for your trip to Myrtle Beach’s – Broadway at the Beach. If you get tired of this area, you can drive a few minutes away and enjoy even more fun!

12 Kid-Friendly Activities to Enjoy:

Visit Ripley’s Aquarium.

Have fun at WonderWorks.

Go on the WonderWorks Zipline.

Feed the fish.

Play mini-golf.

Watch a movie.

Eat ice cream or fudge.

Take your kids to the playground. It’s free!

Ride the amusement park rides (check hours).

Visit the Dinosaur Exhibit (check hours).

Check out the mirror maze.

Do laser tag.

We had an amazing day trip to Myrtle Beach. We enjoyed an all-American lunch at Johnny Rockets (hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes!), had a nice stroll around the boardwalk area, fed some fish, and took my son the playground. I also found a very cool toy shop there! Later we drove towards the beach and enjoyed the local scenery. It was a simple day trip, but a lot of fun!

Have you been to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina before? What’s your favorite place or activity here?

Looking for some family-friendly activities for your next Big Island vacation?

Last summer, I took my 15-month old son to the Big Island (Island of Hawai’i) which is one of my all-time favorite places to visit. I’m originally from O’ahu, but there is something special about the Big Island that keeps me coming back.

Waiting for the Sunset – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Reasons to Visit

If your family is into nature and likes the outdoors, the Big Island is a good place to visit. You can visit black sand beach, swim with manta rays, and see volcanoes! It’s the perfect place for hiking, biking, zip lining, riding horses, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities. The Big Island has a lot to offer for everyone.

10 Things to Do

Here’s a list of 10 things to do on the Big Island with your family and a few bonus ideas.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Stop by one of the coolest national parks in the world! At the park, visit the Jaggar Museum, Thurston Lava Tube, and drive down Crater Rim Drive (Chain of Crater Roads was closed when we went) for a worthwhile trip. At the very end of the 11-mile drive, you can see a gorgeous view of the ocean and walk among the hardened lava that took over a town. (Tip: If you are military, you can rent cabins at Kilauea Military Camp).

Hapuna Beach State Park. Hapuna Beach is a great place for families to enjoy the water or have a picnic outside. It is one of the first beaches I visited on the Big Island. It’s also one of the best beaches out there!

Hilo Farmer’s Market (Saturday and Wednesday). I love looking at all the goods Hilo’s Farmer’s Market has to offer, but especially the unique flowers I bought which I haven’t found anywhere else.

Akaka Falls. A super easy “hike” to see a waterfall. (Note: the winter will probably provide the most spectacular views due to the rain).

Macadamia Nut or Coffee Farm. Seek out a Macadamia or Coffee Farm to explore. It can be a great learning experience and you can purchase some gifts to take home. (Note: the Mauna Loa farm was OK. Better ones exist!).

Lili’uokalani Park and Gardens. This is a really pretty park with Japanese influence. This park is a great place to visit for a picnic or quick stroll! It’s very peaceful here.

Big Island Candies. These shortbread cookies are beyond amazing. Stop by Big Island Candies for their famous chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies. I love their free samples, so I know what I’m buying beforehand.

Two Ladies Kitchen. If you are a fan of mochi, this is the place! The main reason I went to the Big Island last summer was to purchase their strawberry mochi, but they were CLOSED! (Tip: order your mochi ahead of time for pick-up before 12:00 p.m. and check online for their hours. Also, children under 3 should not consume mochi, a rice cake dessert that can be quite chewy).

Mauna Kea (Summit for age 16+ only). View billions of stars and see world-class telescopes at the Mauna Kea summit. If your children are older than 16, this can be a memorable experience! If not, you won’t be able to go further than the visitor center (Note: do not bring children under 16. Not worth it due to the possible health risks. Freezing cold/high altitude conditions).

Historic Kailua Village. Take a walk through this vibrant beach town, enjoy the sunset, grab a bite to eat, or visit a a historic site like Hulihee Palace. This was a very scenic walk for us and my toddler burned a TON of energy. If you haven’t already, you MUST indulge in a local-style plate lunch.

Here are some additional ideas which may help you come up with some options for your visit. I always wanted to do these, but haven’t got a chance yet.

Black Sand Beach (need to make this a priority!). It’s not everyday that you can see a black sand beach.

Swim with Manta Rays. Swim at night and have your flashlight attract gigantic manta rays. I admit this may be a bit scary, but it sounds very fun.

Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook). A great place to snorkel. I’m dying to go here!

Waipio Valley. See incredible views.

Visit the City of Refuge. A lot of Hawaiian history to learn about here.

Zip Line. A fun activity if you aren’t afraid of heights.

What would you like to do on the Big Island? If you have been to the island of Hawai’i, what was your most memorable experience? I can definitely say my most memorable place is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I spent most of my time here. There’s no place like it.

Last summer, I finally went back home to visit with my 15-month old in tow. We had such a great time, which made me realize that I need to go home more often. After all, it had been four years since I left and I wasn’t sure when I was coming back. Then, we received a wedding invitation from a friend.

Returning home made me miss everything I took for granted. Seeing my son have such an amazing time made me think a lot about how I wanted him to have similar experiences of Hawaii. So, it wasn’t too difficult to create a list of toddler-friendly places in preparation for our visit.

View from Makapu’u

Sea Life Park

There are many things to do in Hawaii, but deciding on where to go with a toddler can be tough with all the choices! I decided I would choose areas that were mostly low-budget and more focused on nature and the open landscape. If you are looking for places/activities for very little kids, then this list will hopefully be helpful for you or at least give you some ideas to research.

Here’s my list of 10 toddler-friendly places to visit:

Shark’s Cove (in the summer). It’s free, the water has many shallow spots, and your little one can see fish! This was the perfect spot for me to introduce my son to water for the first time. He had the biggest smile and loved seeing the little fish swim by.

Hanauma Bay. A beautiful bay to spend time with your young child. Your toddler can play at the edge of the water and see some fish or enjoy throwing sand for a bit. This is one of my favorite spots for snorkeling! You’ll have to pay a small fee and watch a safety video prior to entering, but it’s worth it. (Note: Closed on Tuesdays!)

Ko’olina Lagoons. I’ve always enjoyed it here because sometimes, you just want something calm and peaceful. This is another great place for your young child to enjoy water because there are no crazy waves!

Makapu’u Lighthouse. There’s a paved road up to the lighthouse, so you can take your stroller up for a pretty easy hike. If you visit in the colder seasons (i.e. February or so), you might get to see some whales! (Tip: there are no rails going upward, so a stroller and/or carrier is ideal since toddler’s can be unpredictable in nature).

Dole Pineapple Plantation. Pineapple ice cream, a train ride, and a maze are things Dole has to offer. If anything, you can always go for the pineapple ice cream! I found some great things to buy here too like Hawaiian honey, a cute Pineapple toy, and other great snacks.

Sea Life Park. Sea Life Park is a lot different than when I grew up and it’s no Sea World for sure, but it is a small sanctuary where kids can leisurely observe sea creatures. If you can get a military or Kama’aina (resident) discount, it may be worth it. I’m glad I went because my son really enjoyed the dolphins! My husband would probably say “skip it” because there isn’t much here, but this place is somewhat sentimental for me.

Honolulu Zoo. What child doesn’t love the Zoo!? As a child, I remember we used to go to the Zoo a lot on school field trips. I also went a couple times as an adult. It’s not huge like the San Francisco Zoo or the North Carolina Zoo, but it’s a cool little place in Waikiki to take the little ones.

Swap Meet. It can be hard to shop with little kids, but if you can bring a stroller/carrier/wagon, it will make it that much easier to buy some gifts for friends and family at the swap meet. I took my son here because it’s an open area for him to burn some energy while I shopped. I found my son a Totoro back pack, an Ukulele, and Aloha attire.

Waikiki Beach. When I was growing up, Waikiki wasn’t a place we went often. It was for tourists. Many people still have that same feeling towards Waikiki, but there’s a lot to enjoy there especially with a toddler visiting Hawaii for the first time. Take a walk down the beach, enjoy the shops, restaurants, and any other entertainment provided. Your kids will soak it all up!

Waikiki Aquarium. This is a REALLY tiny aquarium, but if your little one could use an activity, this is a neat place for them to stop by and see.

There are many other places to visit, but I chose the one’s above because I believe they are easier for a small, energy-filled child to take in.

Shark’s Cove

Thinking of our time in Hawaii, I’ll always remember the smile on my son’s face while at Shark’s Cove. He splashed around in the water and tried to swim with the fish. These are memories I’ll cherish forever. I can’t wait to return home again soon.

What are your favorite Oahu activities with a toddler?

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Hello! It's nice to meet you! I'm Mary. Thank you for stopping by Stirring Up Delight. I hope you'll find some useful tips, recipes, and reviews or maybe a story or two that you might enjoy. Read More…

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